John Truby rides out strike

Labor woes haven't quenched scribes' appetite

A writers strike might seem like a perilous time to tubthump a book on screenwriting. Not so, says John Truby.

The veteran script doctor and writing instructor, now on the publicity circuit for his first how-to tome, says labor woes have not quenched scribes’ appetite for the profession.

“Quite the reverse has happened,” Truby says. “It has highlighted the position and role of writers.”

Truby says mostly wannabe scribes have turned out at his appearances on behalf of “The Anatomy of Story” over the past few weeks, eager to talk about ways to improve their craft — and to discuss the WGA strike.

“What’s interesting is that this is still what they want to do,” Truby says.

But Truby stands “100% behind” the strike. “I think it’s necessary,” he says. Like many scribes, Truby’s eager for the guild to hang tight on new media, calling it an even more important battle than the one over DVD residuals.

“We won’t get fooled again,” he vows. “This will be much worse than DVD.”